Improvement in piano-forte keys



LLPRATT.

PIANO FORTE KEYS. N0.190,363. Patented Mayl, 1877.

UNITED STATEs PATENT QEEIcE,

ULYSSES PRATT, OF DEEP RIVER, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-FORTE KEYS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,363, dated May 1, 1877; application filed October 22, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ULYssEs PRATT, of Deep River, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Keys for Piano-Fortes, Organs, and other musical instruments; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a cheap and highly-ornamental molding for the ends of piano-forte keys; and to this end it consists in a molding composed of celluloid, glass, porcelain, or other similar plastic material capable of being molded into the desired shape in molds or dies, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure l represents a View in perspective of a key for musical instruments constructed in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 a side view of the forward portion of the same upon a larger scale.

A is th'e white key of a piano-forte, organ, or other like musical instrument, having its top veneer b, which may either be made Whole or in sections, extended to overlap the front end of the Wood of the key, and to cover the top joint formed by a front end molding, d.

This molding is applied as a separate piece to the front end of the key, and may be made of scrap or Waste at but little cost, and be cemented or secured to the wood of the key or to a plain Wooden facing having a longitudinal presentation of fiber on its tace, to provide for the adhesion of the molding, but in no case is said front end molding a mere enamel or veneer. Furthermore, said molding d, which may be ot' any desired profile in its vertical section, is made of celluloid, porcelain, glass of a white opaque description, or other equivalent material, which, unlike Wood, will neither require varnishing nor enameling, but which, like the materials named for its construction, has a natural gloss, and admits of being polished. This construction ofthe front end of the key gives a solid and permanentlyhandsome iuish to it.

I claim- Amolding, d, for the ends of piano-forte keys, composed ofcelluloid, glass, porcelain, or other similar material capable of being cast or molded in a plastic state into the desired shape, substantially as herein shown and described.

ULYSSES PRATT.

Witnesses:

HENRY T. BROWN, MICHAEL RYAN. 

